June 10, 2021 Jen 10 miles 3,000 feet gained
Wow, this was a really cool mountaintop! A long cirque ridge, with cool layered pillars. It felt like walking the outer walls of an ancient fortress. I was able to drive to the Ironstone Mtn TH at over 6000 ft on Bethel Ridge. All of the open south facing slopes were lovely with xeric rock gardens, but on north side of ridge, and in the saddles, there were p...
June 10, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci 6.2 miles 4,000 feet gained
The trail up to Wagon Wheel Lake is a steep one. The lake is nothing to get excited about and most people I know do it one time and vow never again. My friend Josh felt that way but I told him with a bit more effort and you could climb up to Cub Peak and would be rewarded with some nice views. While the weather was not optimal with a little bit of everything...
June 9, 2021 Jen 7 miles 2,750 feet gained
Snow above 4000 ft made for slow going, but I was still able to follow the trail for the most part. Lovely steep meadows up high full of glacier lillies.
June 6, 2021 Sarah Johnson 7 miles 1,500 feet gained
Both Mountain forecast and NOAA had high wind predictions, mostly clear skies turning into partly cloudy. We decided to stretch our legs anyway, with the idea we would turn around when conditions were no longer fun. We stayed at nearby Elk Lake Campground, my friend Tom had booked because we weren't sure if the parking lot at Devil's Lake Trailhead was melte...
May 31, 2021 Jen 7 miles 5,250 feet gained
Went with a small Mazamas group. Tuesday after Memorial Day and the mountain was very quiet, only one person ahead of us who gave us the summit to ourselves when we arrived. Due to concern for the warm weather, we left Tline at 11pm. Traversed the Hot Rocks and came up the old chute. Conditions soft, but not yet mashed potatoes. Got some good glissades below...
May 30 to May 31, 2021 runandsew 8.5 miles 3,000 feet gained 1 night
Finally got out in the daylight for a backpack instead of night hiking. Milky Way and stars out before the moon set.
May 29, 2021 Woodswalker 18.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
We searched for something that would be quiet and snow free over Labor day weekend and were super happy with this hike. We started at the Lower Bridge campground TH on the Metolius river. It's just past all the car camping. We hiked for about 3 mile along the river on fisherman's trail's and then scrambled up to the closed dirt road. Which was actually mostl...
May 29 to May 31, 2021 Sarah Johnson 9 miles 1,750 feet gained 2 nights
I hate going out on Holiday weekends, but my partner Zane wanted to get in a couple of days of fun before summer camps start. We really liked exploring little badger creek on the 4th of July last year, so thought we would try for a campsite on the rock formations, but go in via School Canyon. We decided the heat would let us decide if we would explore the lo...
May 28 to May 29, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci 11.8 miles 4,000 feet gained 1 night
Hiked the Deer Ridge trail to the Deer Park campground which is closed to car camping this time of year. Just one other person at the campsite besides ourselves. Nice kid from New York who joined us for some company around the campfire. Next morning after a frosty night, glad I brought my 15 degree bag, hiked to the top of Blue Mountain w/ it's expansive 360...
May 26 to May 28, 2021 Jen 11.5 miles 2,250 feet gained 2 nights
The forecast told me the rain would cease after 11am. I got to the TH for Crabtree Valley at 1pm and it was still raining hard. I took the short hike to nearby Crabtree mountain instead. Logging road with intermittent snow drifts. The rain did stop, but the trees kept on with their drip drip drip. Camped nearby and awoke to sunny skies next day. Lots of old ...
May 23, 2021 Sarah Johnson 10 miles 1,250 feet gained
First group hike in a very long time. Got an invite from my pal Matt Reeder to check out a seldom used trail. We brought along tools and tried to clear sections of trail but it really needs a lot of work. We did a casual cleanup as we hiked. Really great flower display and interesting bones, but very windy as it looked like wet weather was moving in. Trails ...
May 22, 2021 Woodswalker 9.1 miles 1,500 feet gained
I had a wonderful trip to southern Oregon visiting old friends. We did a short hike that went around the edges of a piece of land we both lived on years ago. We started at the Tunnel Ridge TH and hiked west over near the headwaters of Muddy Gulch and Birch Creek. The trail is flat once you get up to the Ditch and goes for miles in either direction. Tons of P...
May 22, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci 7.5 miles 3,000 feet gained
Started at the upper TH. A bit of snow to navigate off and on but nothing in our case which necessitated putting on traction. Nice clear day so the views from the top were sublime.
May 19, 2021 Sarah Johnson 6 miles 2,750 feet gained
Obligatory dog on dog mountain. Took an evening stroll and had the top to ourselves. Ran into my pal Tom Shi on my way up fulfilling his springtime requirement with Fredo.
May 18, 2021 Jen 12 miles 1,500 feet gained
This was the first hike described in the 2001 edition of "50 Hikes in the Tillamook State Forest". I can only recommend it as a winter hike. Gentle climb on logging road with a few bits of mature forest. However, I will definitely return on mountain bike! Lots of roads to explore, behind locked gates, no OHVs allowed. No sign of party pigs. The summit road l...
May 17, 2021 Jen 4 miles 750 feet gained
Had an afternoon thing in The Dalles, so I went for a little stroll across the river afterwards. The big flower display is done, but some hardy summer flowers are out. It was quite windy, and the 2-3 foot high grasses undulating in the wind was mesmerizing.
May 17, 2021 Woodswalker 10.3 miles 2,250 feet gained
The phlox is at peak at the top. We added a few extra miles on just because. The forest is such a lovely shade of green right now! The clouds briefly rolled aside just as we hit the top.
May 16, 2021 Sarah Johnson 4.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
I was not feeling great yesterday, and the sun was draining. Long (but beautiful) drive out on forest roads. I previously avoided this hike because I didn't think a Prius would make it, but the long gravel road was smooth sailing the whole way. I really want to get out on some of these Gifford backroads and bring my mountain bike. The boulders reported block...
May 16 to May 17, 2021 runandsew 4 miles 2,750 feet gained 1 night
First hike up to Palmer this year and what a beautiful day. Caught the Milky Way, two falling stars and the Elon Musk satellites the night before.
May 16, 2021 Woodswalker 7.5 miles 2,250 feet gained
Beautiful day hiking the rim loop clockwise. The flowers are going strong in many of the hanging meadows. I heard from another hike that bees were swarming on Archer Mountain and we saw them swarming around a tree at the edge of a lookout point as well. The falls even had some water still flowing. Great day.
May 13, 2021 Sarah Johnson 5 miles 1,000 feet gained
Visited a couple gorge trails that I normally avoid due to popularity. It was nice way to spend the afternoon with my dog Lily. Hardly saw anyone on the Latourell Falls loop.
May 13, 2021 Jen 5 miles 500 feet gained
Checked out the Underhill Trail and a few other spots. Looking for morels. Big zero. Even in the areas where the snow was still receding, it seemed too late. Feels so dry over there.
May 11 to May 13, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci 30.8 miles 3,000 feet gained 2 nights
First day we hiked in about 10 miles and made base camp at Pyrites Creek. Next day hiked up the 3 miles to the Enchanted Valley where the old chalet is located. From there we hiked further up the valley about 2 miles to the "world largest recorded western hemlock." There was quite a bit of black bear activity in the area. We sighted a dozen bears during our ...
May 11, 2021 Woodswalker 15.3 miles 4,000 feet gained
Glorious day in the gorge. The water flow is low but the wildflowers are popping. Relatively uncrowded near the falls and just a few people further up the trail. I had the summit to myself. There's still solid snow starting about half a mile from the parking lot but it was shallow and well consolidated. The main bootpath actually heads up a few hundred feet ...
May 10, 2021 Sarah Johnson 12 miles 5,500 feet gained
What better way to start a new week freshly unemployed but to stare into the gaping maw of a volcano to question your future? Today was a struggle with a 3 am start, every morsel of food I packed seemed completely unappetizing, and once the sun hit the snow our pale Portland skin was fried no matter how we covered up. My third summit of Mt St Helens but some...
May 7, 2021 Sarah Johnson 4.5 miles 1,500 feet gained
Just a short and sweet trek up on a weekday to get the blood moving.
May 5, 2021 Woodswalker 9.8 miles 3,000 feet gained
Great day out at Herman Creek. I went up the ridge via Gorton Trail to one of my favorite lunch spots. Peak 3152.
May 2, 2021 Sarah Johnson 11 miles 1,750 feet gained
Opted for an easy stroll up Grayback after the sufferfest up Defiance last weekend. One of my favorite hikes for solitude. Mount Adams was out and looking pretty majestic. Maybe I'll have to take a stroll up there soon....
May 2, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci 6 miles 3,250 feet gained
My brother had never climbed Mt. Ellinor before so with a fair weather picture predicted we headed out to the Lake Cushman area. One can now easily drive to the lower TH and that's where we started. Only way up still is via the winter route and the avalanche chute was in good shape. The climb from the bottom of the avalanche chute to the summit is around 150...
April 29, 2021 Woodswalker 8.9 miles 3,000 feet gained
We made it to about a half mile from the top. Solid ice alternating with steep sloped sliding slush defeated us even with micro spikes, Still it was wonderful.
April 27 to April 28, 2021 Jen 13.5 miles 3,000 feet gained 1 night
Had a great trip in the vicinity of Clarno. I first went to the Hanock Field Station and did a loop hike in the Clarno Unit backcountry. Saw fossils, a petrified tree, and visited the Red Hill and Whitecapped Knoll. 4.5 miles, 750 ft gain. I then drove down nearby Clarno Road to the Spring Basin Wilderness trailheads. Was going to car camp there and get an e...
April 27, 2021 Woodswalker 13 miles 1,000 feet gained
I had never been to Cottonwood canyon and I wanted to go before it got too hot. Great day with some easy off trail climbing up high for amazing overlooks of the John Day River. The Balsam Root is starting to fade, but the phlox and Bicolor lilies were blooming. Wonderful day!
April 25, 2021 Sarah Johnson 11 miles 5,000 feet gained
Had to spend last weekend (with it's beautiful weather) in self imposed quarantine, as many of my coworkers tested positive for Covid 19. Ended up doing a 20 mile bike ride once I got my negative results Sunday afternoon. As a result of them testing positive, my skeleton crew of 3 did everything we could to keep our department going minus 5 people. Lot's of ...
April 25, 2021 Jen 9 miles 2,250 feet gained
Roaming around, with some pleasant flailing. Found all kinds of old revegetating roads and helpful critter trails. The scree field is epic! Untouched. Magnificent views all around. I witnessed a big chunk of basalt do two endos and hit the cliff on the way down bringing even more with it. I think I saw some goats up high too. Found some more old road to take...
April 20, 2021 Jen 10 miles 2,500 feet gained
Dog TH packed at 0900 on a Tuesday, and the flower show has not even begun yet! Drove around to the Northern Augsperger TH. I went up via Berge Road to sometimes rough 2700 (but you can also go up on the east side from Willard). Only saw one other hiker on the Augsperger trail, it's a bit brushy, some snow in the trees just north of the summit, but trail not...
April 19, 2021 Woodswalker 10.1 miles 2,250 feet gained
I started out at the Equestrian TH and made it to Phlox Point despite some pretty fierce winds up top. Nice Glacier Lilly bloom stating about 2400 and continuing to the top. Lots of yellow violets lower down and a smattering of Trilliums. I went down the east side and wandered north a bit along Hardy Creek. I had thought about hitting the saddle on Hamilton ...
April 16 to April 18, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci 13.3 miles 500 feet gained 2 nights
Hiked up the Hoh and spent a couple of nights at the Five Mile Island backcountry camp. Perfect weather with it being cold enough at night to keep the bugs at bay.
April 16 to April 17, 2021 runandsew 4 miles 750 feet gained 1 night
We made a decision to turn around and get our snowshoes if it was bad enough. Well, it wasn't horrible until it was and that was beyond where we wanted to turn around. Gutting it out, we were rewarded with tons of stars, climbers to watch and the Milky Way!
April 15, 2021 Woodswalker 10.8 miles 3,000 feet gained
Despite starting up via Angels Rest it was a day filled mostly with solitude. No snow on the trail. Just a few patches here and there in the woods. The Trilliums were full on, but every thing else is still not blooming. There are still a few old Russ Jolly engraved signs up there, but mostly trail helpers are posting new ones. Lovely jaunt in the mostly gree...
April 12 to April 13, 2021 Jen 1 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
The Mount Tahoma Trails Association has developed a system of ski trails with alpine huts and yurts on state land near Ashford, WA. The forest itself is bland reprod and the trails are logging roads which are great for skiing, maybe not so great for hiking. But the views from the huts are worth it! We visited the High Hut, then Snowbowl hut and camped nearby...
April 12, 2021 Woodswalker 12.3 miles 1,750 feet gained
I wanted to have a day that was somewhat leisurely with a lunch that was in a warm spot with a view. And I found it. The cutoff trail from the PCT to Carpenter Lake was still in great shape. I was hoping to hear the frog orchestra at the lake but no luck. It appears to have dried up even more since the last time I was there. The top of Aldrich was so windy I...
April 11, 2021 Sarah Johnson 10 miles 3,750 feet gained
This was long overdue. I'd been up King, been up Elk, and even had attempted the traverse years ago when I first moved to Portland. (It was winter without much daylight, and we had turned around at the rope and went down the gentler Elk Creek Trail instead of finishing) In my head, I wanted to see if I had grown enough as a hiker to finally complete this men...
April 11, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci 5.75 miles 3,500 feet gained
Well consolidated snow began a short bit after the horse camp. Used microspikes and going down would have been difficult w/o them. Had the summit to myself and had a nice leisurely lunch with my grey jay buddies. Timed is perfectly as met quite a few people heading up on my descent.
April 10 to April 11, 2021 runandsew 6 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
Hoping for the Milky Way after a 9:10 pm start on the trail. No luck.
April 7, 2021 Woodswalker 7.8 miles 1,500 feet gained
A wonderful leisurely stroll to see flowers at Catherine Creek. Bloom is full on down low. I saw all my favorites.
April 6, 2021 Jen 6 miles 500 feet gained
Accessed the north side of the White Salmon trails via Bates Road. Saw some ticks, deers and a lone mtn biker.
April 4, 2021 Sarah Johnson 9 miles 2,000 feet gained
Cloudy day in the gorge, but beautiful views (minus volcanoes) and fun playing in the snow. Mostly solitude on Hardy, except for a group of bunny ear wearing BCEP'ers we nicknamed the Hardy Hares.
